Phlebotomy Experience

[RackingHorse]

Before I switched from a Community College to a University, I took a three month phlebotomy class, and worked at hospital afterwards for 6 months. Have any of you all ever used experience like this when applying to vet school? Plan on using it in the future? I think it is a good experience to have. What do you all think?

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[Emiloo4]

Before I switched from a Community College to a University, I took a three month phlebotomy class, and worked at hospital afterwards for 6 months. Have any of you all ever used experience like this when applying to vet school? Plan on using it in the future? I think it is a good experience to have. What do you all think?

It is definitely an experience I would put down on my application. But to be honest with you, they look for less technical ability as opposed to an understanding of veterinary medicine from a business, ethical, and medical standpoint. They can teach anyone to pull blood, but they want to see that you not only understand the field of medicine, but more importantly, the field of VETERINARY medicine as they are not one in the same. Try to get as much experience in a veterinary setting as possible, and definitely put your phlebotomy experience in your application! Sounds fun! 🙂

 

[moosenanny]

I seem to remember another thread with a similar theme started by you, OP: this is my past experience; is this a good thing for my applications?

I'm sorry to be so rude and curt, but you are really just asking to get your ego stroked, aren't you??? You have a certain set of life experiences (farrier training, phlebotomy, etc.) and either vet schools will accept you based on those experiences combined with grades, letters of recommendation, etc. --- or they won't. But having random fellow pre-vets or vet students ooh and ahh over your experiences isn't going to help your cause.

If you are insecure about your experiences and how they stack up - go out there and get more experience.

 

[RackingHorse]

I seem to remember another thread with a similar theme started by you, OP: this is my past experience; is this a good thing for my applications?

I'm sorry to be so rude and curt, but you are really just asking to get your ego stroked, aren't you??? You have a certain set of life experiences (farrier training, phlebotomy, etc.) and either vet schools will accept you based on those experiences combined with grades, letters of recommendation, etc. --- or they won't. But having random fellow pre-vets or vet students ooh and ahh over your experiences isn't going to help your cause.

If you are insecure about your experiences and how they stack up - go out there and get more experience.

😡 No I am not trying to get my ego stroked. Since this is a pre veterinary forum my question was totally relevant. There are other people on here who ask/have asked similar questions. I am not insecure about my experiences nor am I trying to have pre vet or vet students "ooh and ahh over my experiences." And I am also gaining more experience all the time!

 

[Wubbles]

I think it matters less on what kind of outside-veterinary experience you get and more that you get some and that they are unique/something you actually care about. If everything you're doing is "Is this good for vet school?" than that's contrived and lame...I'm sure ad-coms can see through these type of things.
In short, do what you want to do, not what you think will look good for an application.

 

[Trematode]

I do not see a problem with someone asking this type of question and I do not think I have seen a question like this asked recently. I think that asking "Should I put this medical experience on my application? Where do I put it?" is a valid question. Although I do not have any medical experience, I have wondered how that looks on a vet school application too (you are not the only one on here who toyed with the idea of pre-med before turning to vet med). I think you should be more worried about the "I have a 3.8 GPA and 5 000 hours of experience. Do I have a chance of getting into vet school???" people. They are "ego-strokers" and need to get a dose of reality.

The general rule of thumb is to put everything down (unless you are allowed X number of slots for things on your app).

 

[libster06]

GAHLEE..... its a friggin question people. Are you maybe just jealous because RackingHorse has a bunch of phlebotomy experience and you're finding yourself still poking 16 times to get a flash?? Cut them some slack dude.

I think you should be more worried about the "I have a 3.8 GPA and 5 000 hours of experience. Do I have a chance of getting into vet school???" people. They are "ego-strokers" and need to get a dose of reality.

RIght. Or don't worry about "ego" or any other kind of stroking on here at all. You do you.

 

[LetItSnow]

They can teach anyone to pull blood

Actually, as nice as that sounds, it's not really the case that vet schools in general are giving students a ton of that kind of experience. Sure, you learn 'how'. But there's learning how and then there's getting comfortable doing it. The school will cover the first part, but it will likely be up to the student to seek out opportunities to get to the level of comfort/skill/competence.

So the point is: that kind of experience is fairly valuable.

 

[RackingHorse]

Thanks for the replies, especially from those of you who have given an answer instead of criticizing me for asking a very relevant question which pertains to veterinary medicine. And, just to let you know I do not pick out random classes to take just to make it look good on a vet school app. I took the phlebotomy and farrier classes before I even decided to become a veterinarian. Also, having human phlebotomy experience has come in pretty handy when I have shadowed with vets, because I usually get to do a lot of blood drawing.

 

[BlacKAT33]

Yup I'd definitely put this on your app for vet school. Of course, keep racking up more vet experience, shadowing etc. It is the unique experiences that vet schools like the most though (because almost everyone applying has "vet tech" on their app).
Like someone else pointed out, it is also good to talk about other things this job taught you besides just the technical skills. Especially, COMMUNICATION!!! You had exposure with lots of patients and vet schools love it when you talk about your communication skills because it is super duper impt when talking with clients about their pets.

For my vet school app, I included anything that was related to science, business, or communication. Even if it did not involve animals if it relates to one of these it can be used to improve your skills as a vet. Just make sure to explain somewhere what you learned from the experience and how this can affect/contribute to your career as a vet. Even if it is just one sentence slipped into your personal statement.

 

[Emiloo4]

Actually, as nice as that sounds, it's not really the case that vet schools in general are giving students a ton of that kind of experience. Sure, you learn 'how'. But there's learning how and then there's getting comfortable doing it. The school will cover the first part, but it will likely be up to the student to seek out opportunities to get to the level of comfort/skill/competence.

So the point is: that kind of experience is fairly valuable.

The experience is very valuable, but I doubt it will be an ultimate deciding factor. Especially when part of your veterinary experience should include that anyway. I was just meaning don't rely on it to be a huge edge.

 

[LetItSnow]

The experience is very valuable, but I doubt it will be an ultimate deciding factor. Especially when part of your veterinary experience should include that anyway. I was just meaning don't rely on it to be a huge edge.

Very little is ultimately a deciding factor, but I'm not sure what you mean by "your veterinary experience should include that anyway." If you mean your pre-vet school experience should include that ... well, mine didn't. And if you meant your vet-school experience should (will) include that ... well, I'm telling you that it won't, unless you make the effort to make it part of your experience. At least, nowhere near as much as you seem to be thinking.

 

[libster06]

Actually, as nice as that sounds, it's not really the case that vet schools in general are giving students a ton of that kind of experience. Sure, you learn 'how'. But there's learning how and then there's getting comfortable doing it. The school will cover the first part, but it will likely be up to the student to seek out opportunities to get to the level of comfort/skill/competence.

So the point is: that kind of experience is fairly valuable.

TRUTHTRUTHTRUTHTRUTHTRUTH.

I haven't touched an animal this year in school... and last year there were no blood draws. Pretty sure not even a hint of that comes until *possibly* third year before spaying/neutering.. my experience has all culminated from my working in clinics since I was 17... and subsequently being blessed with securing a clinic job every summer since I've started college. I definitely wasn't relying on vet school for that somewhat "technical", yet very necessary, skill.

 

[Emiloo4]

Geez... people get really testy on here don't they? I was giving my opinion on someone's question and wasn't really expecting for my comment to be so thoroughly criticized. I had tons of blood puling experience, and yes, I have worked with doctors who never once pulled blood, so excuse me for being general. My point is that they aren't necessarily looking for someone with fantastic tech skills as much as they are the overall fact that you have experienced the veterinary field and know what you're getting into. My bad for whatever triggered so much ridicule, but I think you are looking way to technically at my comment. I think the stress of the app cycle is getting to us all!

 

[sunshinevet]

TRUTHTRUTHTRUTHTRUTHTRUTH.

I haven't touched an animal this year in school... and last year there were no blood draws. Pretty sure not even a hint of that comes until *possibly* third year before spaying/neutering.. my experience has all culminated from my working in clinics since I was 17... and subsequently being blessed with securing a clinic job every summer since I've started college. I definitely wasn't relying on vet school for that somewhat "technical", yet very necessary, skill.

Couldn't agree more!!!! I've now done 3 out of our 5 years, and I've only drawn blood from cows and sheep - twice each!!! We've not even covered how to place a catheter. So, so greatful for awesome tech experience - and now that we're in the later years, some of my other classmates are starting to get seriously jealous as they realise that they're NOT going to get those experiences at vet school.

Geez... people get really testy on here don't they? I was giving my opinion on someone's question and wasn't really expecting for my comment to be so thoroughly criticized. I had tons of blood puling experience, and yes, I have worked with doctors who never once pulled blood, so excuse me for being general. My point is that they aren't necessarily looking for someone with fantastic tech skills as much as they are the overall fact that you have experienced the veterinary field and know what you're getting into. My bad for whatever triggered so much ridicule, but I think you are looking way to technically at my comment. I think the stress of the app cycle is getting to us all!

To be honest, I didn't think anyone was getting particularly testy. It was just standard discussion on a piece of advice.

 

[Emiloo4]

Ok, I've been up for 2 days straight so don't mind me lol. 😳 It just seemed as though the whole point of what I said was looked over. I wasn't saying vet school would teach you to pull blood, I was trying to say they care much more about other things when you are trying to get IN to vet school than your technical abilities... that's all.
(Damn my biochem final for making me crazy) 😱

 

[StartingoverVet]

Well, I'm going to side with Emiloo on this one.

Blood drawing ability is certainly not going to be a major factor in getting into school. It certainly doesn't hurt, but it is not a skill schools are looking for. Packaged into general animal and veterinary experience it is fine, but I just agree with her that it is not a MAJOR factor.

Entirely different question whether it is helpful to have that experience. And of course it is helpful. Even if schools spent a lot of time on this skill (and they don't), the more you know or can do before you get in, the better.

Finally, your experience at different schools will vary. Certainly if you want opportunities for blood drawing here at Penn they are available. You can get certified by the canine club (there is a wet lab), and then there are a lot of opportunities to draw blood on weekends at club events. I have not tried too hard to seek out opportunities and have drawn blood at a repro lab and at a shelter club paws visit and can repeat those many times.

As part of the curriculum. Not really. Just cows and horses so far.

 

[Dsmoody23]

 

[Emiloo4]

Very little is ultimately a deciding factor, but I'm not sure what you mean by "your veterinary experience should include that anyway." If you mean your pre-vet school experience should include that ... well, mine didn't. And if you meant your vet-school experience should (will) include that ... well, I'm telling you that it won't, unless you make the effort to make it part of your experience. At least, nowhere near as much as you seem to be thinking.

No, I meant your pre-vet experiences in a veterinary clinic. Not all experiences are similar, and not everyone will pull blood, but I definitely didn't mean it in an academic setting.

 

[Trematode]

Can't we just leave it at "put it on your application"?

 

[Dsmoody23]

Is there absolutely anyone who thinks that this information doesn't belong in an application?

In a forum where we've discussed goldfish ownership as 'Animal Experience?"

This thread makes no sense.

 

[Emiloo4]

Is there absolutely anyone who thinks that this information doesn't belong in an application?

In a forum where we've discussed goldfish ownership as 'Animal Experience?"

This thread makes no sense.

👍

 

[that redhead]

I think Moosenanny's point is that this same poster has asked the same question before, with a different experience (farrier school). If every applicant made a different thread for every experience they want to know is good or bad, we'd be swamped. I personally would prefer that someone lump all of their experiences in one post and ask about them, or post in the "what are my chances" thread. I really don't see how very many experiences are going to count against you (I remember reading over in pre-allo about an "exotic dancer" who didn't know whether or not to put her experience on her app) and there definitely isn't a need to make a different thread for every experience you've ever had.

 

[drwildlife]

In a forum where we've discussed goldfish ownership as 'Animal Experience?"

Whoa. I must have missed out on this one.

 

[StartingoverVet]

In a forum where we've discussed goldfish ownership as 'Animal Experience?"

.

Must search for that thread.

I did NOT include my goldfish, tetra, betta or other fish owning experiences... I want to go back and revise my application if true. Maybe it will help me... somehow

 

[drwildlife]

Must search for that thread.

I did NOT include my goldfish, tetra, betta or other fish owning experiences... I want to go back and revise my application if true. Maybe it will help me... somehow

It could get you that competitive aquatic pet store veterinarian position that you've always wanted!

 

[Trematode]

I think it is funny how people fly off the handle at this and not at the large number of "I'm 17, will I get into vet school if I go to this university?" posts or "What should I major in?" They just refer them to another thread and not get all snarky over it. If you are going to get snarky at one member for asking something that HAS NOT BEEN ASKED ON THIS FORUM YET, then you should get more snarky at the excess "what school?" and "what major?" posts.

Personally, I would have tagged the question onto an older post, but hey, sometimes you forget. Maybe this experience was an after thought and the OP did not think to tag it on to the older post. If the OP was asking about farrier experience AND shoveling crap at the cow barn experience AND goldfish-raising experience all in different threads, that to me is excessive. Two posts about two different types of experiences that have not been talked about on this thread before is no big deal. All you had to say was "Put everything on your app. The more experience you have on your application, the better. Vet school likes to see well-rounded individuals." If all goes well, the OP gets the hint and nobody has to fight about it.

It is exam season. Everyone is stressed out. It feels good to be rude on the internet. I get it. There are threads for that kind of hostility (like the evolution thread!) Grab your laptop and a beer and go b***h about the horrible bible quotes and the hypocrisy. Or you can use your time to get creatively snarky on all of the other repeat threads out there. You started with this one so why stop now?

I really wish fish-raising experience could count as animal experience on an application... or snail collecting. Sad face.

 

[Minnerbelle]

I really wish fish-raising experience could count as animal experience on an application... or snail collecting. Sad face.

Go for it. If anything you could put it down as a hobby (I mean, if collecting stamps count, I don't see why collecting snails wouldn't). I can't remember if it was on VMCAS or supplementals, but there are def places you can put hobbies. Maybe even bonus points if you mention how you like to chop up snails and put them in a Baermann apparatus to recover possible parasite larvae. Dunno if they'll see that as animal cruelty though.

 

[Trematode]

I am not applying to the states, but my thesis research is on my application under the "extracurriculars" section. 😀. I wish there was a hobby section. It would certainly go there. 👍.

 

[moosenanny]

I think Moosenanny's point is that this same poster has asked the same question before, with a different experience (farrier school). If every applicant made a different thread for every experience they want to know is good or bad, we'd be swamped. I personally would prefer that someone lump all of their experiences in one post and ask about them, or post in the "what are my chances" thread. I really don't see how very many experiences are going to count against you (I remember reading over in pre-allo about an "exotic dancer" who didn't know whether or not to put her experience on her app) and there definitely isn't a need to make a different thread for every experience you've ever had.

Thank you. Yes, my point was that you've done this experience and you obviously know enough to put it on your application. You weren't asking us how to spin the experience, where it should be mentioned in the application, how you should market yourself, etc. You were just saying, "Look at me; I've done this. I hope vet schools like my resume." It is up to the admissions committee members to formulate opinions about all of your experiences - and not us. Hearing us congratulating you on blood drawing experience isn't going to do you any good.

 

[ApplicantNSoCal]

Before I switched from a Community College to a University, I took a three month phlebotomy class, and worked at hospital afterwards for 6 months. Have any of you all ever used experience like this when applying to vet school? Plan on using it in the future? I think it is a good experience to have. What do you all think?

I actually did the same thing and have my phlebotomy license. I did list it as experience on my Davis Application. If you message me I will provide further detail on how I listed it.